SENSING FEATURE ON FUSE ELEMENT FOR DETECTION PRIOR TO FUSE OPEN
First Claim
1. A sensing circuit signally cooperative with at least one battery cell within a battery pack, said circuit comprising:
- at least one fuse comprising a main element and a sensing element the latter of which defines a pre-open detection capability through at least one of (a) a material that is dissimilar from a material that defines said main element and (b) a dissimilar geometric profile from that of said main element such that a fusing event takes place in said sensing element prior to said main element;
an electrical conductor connected to said fuse such that upon receipt of an electrical signal from said at least one battery cell or an electronic module cooperative therewith, said sensing circuit provides indicia of said fusing event through opening of said sensing element prior in time to opening said main element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensing circuit, a vehicular battery pack using a sensing circuit, a method of protecting a circuit with a fuse and a method of providing battery power to a vehicle. The sensing circuit includes the fuse, which is made up of a main element and a sensing element such that the sensing element defines a pre-open detection capability through at least one of a dissimilar geometric profile or a different material choice from that of the main element. The sensing circuit also includes an electrical connector between one or more battery cells and an electronic control module so that the circuit provides indicia of the fusing event. In this way, a fuse opening event takes place in the sensing element prior to the main element in such a way as to give the operator of a battery-powered vehicle advance warning of an impending opening of the main element and consequent electrical circuit shutdown, thereby allowing the operator of the vehicle to take corrective measures as a way to avoid fuse opening and a related loss of vehicular propulsive power.
26 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A sensing circuit signally cooperative with at least one battery cell within a battery pack, said circuit comprising:
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at least one fuse comprising a main element and a sensing element the latter of which defines a pre-open detection capability through at least one of (a) a material that is dissimilar from a material that defines said main element and (b) a dissimilar geometric profile from that of said main element such that a fusing event takes place in said sensing element prior to said main element; an electrical conductor connected to said fuse such that upon receipt of an electrical signal from said at least one battery cell or an electronic module cooperative therewith, said sensing circuit provides indicia of said fusing event through opening of said sensing element prior in time to opening said main element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A battery pack configured to provide propulsive power to a vehicle, said battery pack comprising:
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a plurality of battery cells aligned along a stacking axis to define a facing relationship thereby; a housing configured to contain said plurality of cells therein; at least one electronic control unit cooperative with at least one of said battery cells; and a plurality of sensing circuits signally cooperative with at least one of said battery cells, said circuit comprising; at least one fuse comprising a main element and a sensing element the latter of which defines a pre-open detection capability through at least one of (a) a material that is dissimilar from a material that defines said main element and (b) a dissimilar geometric profile from that of said main element such that a fusing event takes place in said sensing element prior to said main element; an electrical conductor connected to said fuse such that upon receipt of an electrical signal from said at least one battery cell or said electronic control unit, said sensing circuit provides indicia of said fusing event through opening of said sensing element prior in time to opening of said main element. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of making a fuse, said method comprising:
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providing a main element of said fuse; providing a sensing element of said fuse; and connecting said sensing element to said main element, said sensing element cooperative with said main element such that a fusing event takes place in said sensing element prior to said main element through at least one of (a) a material that is dissimilar from a material that defines said main element and (b) a dissimilar geometric profile from that of said main element. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of providing battery power to a vehicle, said method comprising:
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using a battery pack to provide at least a portion of propulsive power for said vehicle, wherein said battery pack is cooperative with an electronic control unit to provide indicia of a fuse opening event to personnel within said vehicle; and including a sensing circuit signally cooperative with at least one battery cell within said battery pack, said circuit comprising; at least one fuse comprising a main element and a sensing element the latter of which defines a pre-open detection capability through at least one of (a) a material that is dissimilar from a material that defines said main element and (b) a dissimilar geometric profile from that of said main element such that a fusing event takes place in said sensing element prior to said main element; and an electrical conductor connected to said fuse such that upon receipt of an electrical signal from said at least one battery cell or an electronic module cooperative therewith, said sensing circuit provides indicia of said fusing event through opening of said sensing element prior in time to opening of said main element. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification